First grader threatened to stab my son

Well I've been very busy lately between my 4 month old who hates sleep and my 7 year old so I haven't had time to get on lately. But I've had a certain situation come up to make me feel as though I need your ladies advice. My 7 year old, James, told me last week that a boy who sits next to him on the bus threatened to bring in a real knife the next day and stab him. He told me this very late at night, so I called the school first thing the next morning. This boy has been bullying James all year, their seats are assigned on the bus so there was no easy way to avoid this child. He had taunted James, pushed him out of his seat, pushed his head into the window, hit James, broke his things, etc. He tried to tell the kid to leave him alone in the past and reported things to his teacher. But this was obviously a very serious incident. My SO drove James to school the next day so he wouldn't have to sit next to this kid. Both of us talked to the principal who seemed surprised at this behavior. He searched the boy, his desk, his locker, etc and found no knife. He told me he would contact the boy's parents and call me back that afternoon, which he did not. I finally spoke with him the next morning and asked what he planned to do about this. He told me he spoke with the parents and he moved the boy's seat on the bus, but that was all. He said he could have suspended the boy but he felt it unnecessary as he cannot help the boy if the by isn't in school. If it happens again he said, then he will suspend the boy. I was in shock I have to admit. I understand the boy didn't actually bring in the knife, but the threat should have been met with some kind of consequence. I find it hard to believe that a 6 or 7 year old boy threatening to stab a fellow student isn't taken as seriously as I thought it would have been in this day and age. I feel like this boy is just going to bully the child he now sits beside. I think the boy should have been suspended until he gets a psych evaluation or at least talks to a therapist. Not only for the sake of his fellow classmates, but for the boy himself too. I don't know if he's just a troubled child, or if he is being abused himself and is dealing with it in this way. I'm not sure what to do honestly. So I need some advice from my fellow BG ladies. Would you talk to the principal again and demand further action? Would you try to contact the boy's parents? Or would you just let it go and trust the principal did his best? I don't think he will have any further contact with my son, but I worry about the other students he is still around.

maybe they dont take it as seriously becuase they are first graders? but i agree that more needs to be done in situations like this and im sorry your going through that!

wow they suspended a kid for pretended to shoot someone with his fingers but not for threatening to stab another student...you got to be kidding me.

I don't think the boy should be suspended, because to kids it's just a day off from school and they don't learn from it at all. They have no idea how it affects their schooling, especially at 7.

I would make another phone call and insist they put the child in school counselling if they refuse to punish him in anyway.

I think I'd talk to the kid's parents first and sort of feel them out-try to figure out what was really going on-possibly followed by a sit-down with the parents, teacher, and principal or guidance counselor.

Im surprised the school doesnt have a zero tolerance policy. All the schools around here do. Although, i agree that suspending him wouldnt help the problem considering hes in first grade but they need to do something more than just move his seat.

I don't know how it is where you are, but here, the bus is a separate entity from the school, meaning that going to the teacher isn't going to do much. You need to inform the bus driver, demand that your son's seat be moved and be frank and say why. My son, who is in 4th grade, had a kid on the bus threaten to snap his(my son's) neck. This boy also bullies my son. The boy has anger issues stemming from the death of his mother and his father's remarriage. That certainly doesn't excuse it, and the school and bus driver are more likely to overlook his behavior and excuse it.

<blockquote><b>Quoting ☮ Phuket:</b>" maybe they dont take it as seriously becuase they are first graders? but i agree that more needs to be done in situations like this and im sorry your going through that!"</blockquote>


Maybe, but nowadays it seems like kids are doing dangerous things younger and younger. That's why I wasn't sure how to feel, I mean I think more needs done but idk how to go about talking to someone about it. I feel like if I call the school again, I'll be told it is over with and nothing more can be done. 😕

I would demand something be done by the school or his parents. Your son is probably scared every time he sees the kid and now he has another kid to torment.

I don't think he should be suspended, as another poster said its a day off school for them.
I'd want a meeting between you two and the other boys parents with the principal. Don't go in all guns blazing though, imagine how horrified you'd be if your child said that to someone.

Wow so a deaf kid in America can't sign his own name cos it looks like a gun but a kid can threaten to stab another kid with no consequence ...

I would ask to speak to that kids parents. I mean, I can understand that once they are off school property they can't do anything but the bus should still be considered "school property"

<blockquote><b>Quoting AidensMama101107:</b>" wow they suspended a kid for pretended to shoot someone with his fingers but not for threatening to stab another student...you got to be kidding me."</blockquote>



Yeah I heard about that. I guess it depends on the school and the principal. I this his principal is too concerned with being everyone's friend rather than being firm on punishment.

Quoting PurpleBama582:" I don't know how it is where you are, but here, the bus is a separate entity from the school, meaning ... [snip!] ... That certainly doesn't excuse it, and the school and bus driver are more likely to overlook his behavior and excuse it. "

If she's really in PA, policies in that state indicate that school vehicles and bus stops fall under the jurisdiction of the school
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/1949/0/0014.013A003.001..HTM
I'd personally push the school a little bit more, and then move on to the school board. The fact this child is doing this in the school setting, the school should also have a part in reprimanding him. He should definitely be seen by the school counselor.

Quoting AidensMama101107:" wow they suspended a kid for pretended to shoot someone with his fingers but not for threatening to stab another student...you got to be kidding me."

just thought this. sickens me, all schools need to take this more seriously.

Quoting Dr. Paradigm Shift:" I think I'd talk to the kid's parents first and sort of feel them out-try to figure out what was really ... [snip!] ... out what was really going on-possibly followed by a sit-down with the parents, teacher, and principal or guidance counselor."

this. I would go to their parents, hopefully they're more understanding...I think the child would more likely listen to his parents rather then a teacher anyways.
Not always but lets hope!